How fast does standing water need to come out after a winter storm?
As fast as a crew can reach it. Water left on a floor soaks into carpet pad, subfloor and the bottom of the walls, and each hour adds to the scope. No arrival time is promised, and the line will tell you what to do while you wait.
Winter nights are the hardest time for a crew, because many buildings are wet at once after the same storm. The line is answered around the clock, and the crew is sent as soon as one is free, which may mean you wait. What you can do in that time is limit the spread and keep the water away from outlets.
Lift what you can off the floor, move furniture away from the wet area, and put a towel or a board under the legs of heavy pieces that cannot be moved. Those steps do not dry anything, but they keep the damage from growing while the crew is on its way.
Why do winter storms leave more moisture behind than summer rain?
Cool, damp air and a building that has not been heated to dry out slow the drying. Materials that take on water in winter can stay wet longer, and the crew adjusts the equipment and the number of visits to match.
Drying works best when the building is warm and the air is moving. After a winter storm the house may be cold, the windows closed and the air already humid, which makes the dehumidifiers work harder. The technician will say when the conditions are slowing the drying, and will set the equipment to suit.
Heating the building can help the drying, but a room heater must never be left running unattended near wet materials or stored fabric, and the crew will ask what heaters are in use before setting its own.
What should I watch for after the water is gone?
Watch for new stains, a return of damp smell, and boards or trim that lift or cup over the next several days. A rise in these signs after drying usually means water is still reaching the building from somewhere, and the crew should be called back.
Check the lower walls, the corners and the area behind the furniture that was moved. Those places stay damp the longest and are the ones most often missed in a quick cleanup. Note any change in color, smell or texture, and send a photograph to the line.
Do not close up a wall, lay new flooring or paint over a damp area until the crew has confirmed the readings. Covering a damp material traps the moisture and hides the problem until it is much larger.
Can I save wet papers, photographs and textiles?
Some can be saved, and some cannot. Photographs and documents are best handled by a specialist, and textiles depend on how long they were wet. Leave them where they are until the crew has looked, and do not dry them on a radiator or in a hot oven.
Keep wet papers flat in a cool, dry room, away from the fans, and separate pages that have stuck together only if you can do it gently. Do not try to peel a photograph apart. Textiles that soaked in storm water may need cleaning rather than drying, which the crew can advise on.
Make a list of the items and where they were kept. That list is useful for your insurer and for deciding what can be replaced.
